To prevent premature aging, it’s vital to nourish your skin with both a well-balanced diet and routine using skincare products recommended by a dermatologist. With that said, we checked in with skincare experts and dermatologists to learn more about common sugary beverages that can really take a toll on your skin’s health, and lead to drying, irritation, and ultimately faster wrinkling if consumed every day or multiple times a day. Read on for tips, suggestions and insight from Dr. Elaine F. Kung, MD, FAAD, board-certified dermatologist and founder of Future Bright Dermatology and Dr. Cheryl Rosen, Director of Dermatology at BowTied Life.
Soda and Faster Aging
While you might already be aware that sodas are generally sugary and unhealthy, you might be interested to learn about the negative effects that drinking them can have on your skin, specifically. "Glucose and fructose [found in soda] link the amino acids present in the collagen and elastin that support the dermis, producing advanced glycation end products or AGEs," Kung explains. She adds that "glycation of amino acids make it difficult to repair collagen and elastin fibers, which contributes to aging skin." So, she would advise "against beverages that are high in sugars or made with high fructose corn syrup," such as sodas and other sweetened, fizzy beverages as they are "not healthy options" for "healthy aging skin."
In 2014, Kung cites that a study was published that showed "regular consumption of sugar-sweetened sodas might influence metabolic disease development through accelerated cell aging." People who consumed soda had "shorter cell telomeres," she notes, which are "protective caps at the end of DNA strands." Progressive shortening of telomeres leads to cell senescence, cell death, or abnormal cell transformation, which can affect someone's health and lifespan. "Shorter telomeres have been associated with increased incidence of diseases and poor survival," she adds, and also, "soda consumption is linked to obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular problems." Since skin health mirrors one's overall health, Kung warns that "having multiple medical problems" to to one's diet will "age someone's appearance."
Healthier Replacements
If you still want to sip on a carbonated beverage without negative drawbacks regarding your skin health, Kung has a healthier recommendation: seltzer water. "I would suggest seltzer water with a twist of lemon or lime as healthy alternatives," Kung says, pointing out that you can still get that fizzy aspect that you enjoy with flavor without added sugar and chemicals that can dry out your skin. For additional collagen-boosting effects, Rosen recommends drinking iced green tea instead of soda.
Collagen is a protein that helps to give skin its structure and elasticity, so drinking beverages that help to boost collagen production can be beneficial for healthy skin. "Brewed green tea is a great drink to boost collagen production," Rosen explains, noting that "the polyphenols in the tea help to break down the bonds between the collagen fibers," making it easier for the body to produce new collagen. Other skin benefits of green tea are made possible by compounds called catechins, which are natural polyphenols and antioxidants, and are found in many types of tea.
